Read Online The In Death Collection: Books 26-29 by J.D. Robb - Free Book Online

It’s quite lovely, our daughter-in-law…” He trailed off, looked back at Eve. “I have no idea why I’m telling you that.”
    â€œWhen did you last speak to Mr. Anders?”
    â€œOn the flight over. We confirmed our golf date. The last thing I said to him, was: Brace yourself, Tommy. I’m going to clean your clock.”
    His face reddened, his eyes filled. For the next few moments, he sat breathing hard as he struggled for composure. “Why are they saying such horrid things about him? Isn’t it enough he’s gone, that a good man is gone?”
    â€œNo, it’s not, and it won’t be until we know why. That’s my job. Who wished him harm?”
    â€œI don’t know. He could be tough in business, but he was never unfair. He watched the competition, of course, and was a competitive man. But he played by the rules. He believed in rules.”
    â€œAnd in his personal life? Did he play by the rules?”
    The wide face reddened again, but with temper. “I won’t have you implying—”
    â€œI’m not implying anything. Obviously you know something of the circumstances of his death. If you know who had access to his home, his bedroom, I need a name. Or names.”
    He leaned forward, fierce as a lion. “Tommy would not cheat on Ava. On anyone.”
    â€œA great many people engage in affairs and sexual activity outside marriage. And a great many of them don’t consider it cheating.” She shrugged. “Just sex, means nothing. Nobody’s hurt.”
    His mouth tightened, pure derision. “Perhaps you can live your life by those standards . Tommy didn’t.”
    â€œThen who might want me to think he did?”
    â€œI don’t know . If anyone harbored such violent feelings toward him, if anyone had threatened him, he didn’t tell me.”
    â€œWould he have?”
    â€œI hope he would.”
    â€œTo your knowledge, did he fire anyone, rebuff anyone?”
    â€œBy rebuff, you’re speaking of a sexual proposition.” Luce let out a short laugh. “I can’t imagine a woman approaching Tommy that way. But I suppose…He was fit, charming in his way, wealthy. I suppose. But he never mentioned that sort of thing either. Of course, it’s possible he didn’t mention it in order to spare the other party the embarrassment and not to open the door to teasing. I would have teased him,” Luce admitted, “unmercifully.
    â€œAs to firing, most terminations would be up to the individual department heads and supervisors. I don’t know of any major dismissals, not recently. Ben would have a better handle on that.”
    â€œCan you tell me who benefits financially?”
    â€œI can and I will because this wasn’t about money. What was done to him…couldn’t have been about money. Both Ava and Ben will receive Tommy’s shares of Anders. Ben will hold the majority, as Tommy did after his own father’s death. Ava will get the house in New York, the estate in the Hamptons, and the pied-à-terre in Paris, and all contents therein unless specifically bequested to others. Ben will inherit Tommy’s yacht, a number of his personal possessions—his collection of golf clubs, but for an antique set he left specifically to me. There’s a house on the coast of South Carolina that will go to him, and the London townhouse. They’ll also divide, in equal shares, his portfolio, after other bequests are made.”
    â€œYou know the details.”
    â€œYes, I know the details. I witnessed the paperwork, and he insisted I read it through first. If you don’t read, you don’t sign—that was Tommy. Lieutenant, I visited both Ava and Ben at the house this afternoon—after…Believe me, they’re in deep mourning. He was loved. Tommy was loved.”

4
    TO SATISFY HERSELF, EVE DETOURED TO THE Anders house on the way home. The traffic, as